Throat herpes is a viral infection of the throat caused by the herpes virus. Herpes simplex 1 and herpes simplex 2 can both be involved in cases of throat herpes. True cases isolated to the throat are relatively rare, but it is not uncommon for people with oral herpes to develop herpes sores in or around the throat in addition to around the lips and on the soft palate. There is no cure for this condition, but it can be managed with medication to reduce the frequency of outbreaks.
Also known as esophageal herpes, throat herpes is caused by direct contact with someone who is shedding herpes virus. Contact with sores anywhere on the body, as may occur during oral sex or if people handle a sore and fail to wash their hands before eating, can lead to herpes infections in and around the mouth. Throat herpes can be hard to diagnose when it is just in the throat, as the patient's symptoms may be attributed to generic sore throat.
Symptoms can include pain in the throat, difficulty swallowing, and trouble breathing in some cases. An examination of the throat will show small active herpes sores and samples taken from those sores can be taken to test for presence of the virus. Once someone is infected, they have the virus for life, and they can actively shed it even if they have no sores. However, medications can be used to suppress viral production, which will limit viral shedding and reduce the number of outbreaks.
Some people with throat herpes have just one outbreak, after the initial infection. Others may experience recurrent outbreaks unless medication is provided. This condition is more common in people with compromised immune systems, and they can develop other oral infections such as candidiasis as well. If breathing difficulties develop, throat herpes can be a cause for concern.
Many people have herpes and don't know it, and a very high percentage of most populations has been diagnosed with this extremely common viral infection. Regular sexually transmitted infection screening is recommended for people who are sexually active in order to catch diseases like herpes early. It is also advisable to use barrier methods during sexual activity with partners who have an unknown disease status or who are actively infected. Using a dental dam and condoms, and washing carefully after handling the genitals, can significantly reduce the risk of contracting infections during sexual activity.